Christmas, new years, and all that

Holy moly, it's a whole new year! And it seems like a lot has happened since last week.

Let's see... two trips to Buda and back, trip to Anderson, my mom was here for a week, the boy and his wife for a week, the daughter's family off and on, Christmas Eve at church, Christmas day, covid, another AFib episode, New Years, and... here we are right back where we were.

The Particulars:

• I went to Buda on 12/23 and returned with my mom on 12/24.
• Christmas Eve our church had just a 7pm service, and Jane and I passed out candles as people entered (and we ran out - need to get more for next year).
  
• Christmas morning we went to the Feipels (with mom). Isaac called and said he just tested positive for covid (with no symptoms).
• Christmas day noonish we met Ricci's mom and picked up the kids in Anderson, and had our gift exchange Christmas night.
• Wednesday (12/27) we all went to Crazy Pins for bowling, then to Takaoka for the 'family supper.'
• Thursday most everyone went shopping and I stayed home and cleaned house.
• Friday morning we took Isaac & Ricci to the airport at 8am, then came home and picked up my mom and drove her back to Buda.
• Friday afternoon after Jane left to visit her brother my heart began racing and had an irregular heartbeat again. I hated to say anything to my mom or to Jane because Jane's brother was being weird and just sort of randomly went to bed while they were eating supper. I finally mentioned it to her when she got to my mom's around 9pm and she started texting her nephew the doctor. Fortunately he was available and had me take an extra diltiazem 120 which helped me sleep good. The next morning after I took a shower everything was back to normal. Whew! 
• Saturday morning Jane went to her brothers again and my mom's coffee pot wouldn't work. I was going to go get her another one but her car also wouldn't start. When Jane came back we went and got her a new coffee pot (and her mechanic came and charged her battery). We left for home early afternoon (and my mom later discovered that her old coffee pot was just unplugged!).
• New Year's Eve we went to the Feipel's for supper and I managed to keep my eyes open until about 9pm.

The Gifts:

This year Jane and I decided to just buy our own gifts and wrap them like they were from each other. She got herself a ring she'd wanted (and I also got her the traditional Ansel Adams calendar, and some chocolates). The kids got me some Bombas socks, an homage stocking hat, two Jon Guerra CDs, and a bag of nuts. Jane got me a nice running shirt, and I got myself four books:

• Running Is My Therapy, by Scott Douglas
• Now I Become Myself, by Ken Shigematsu
• Stolen Focus, by Johann Hari
• The Way of The Heart, by Henri Nouwen

 Aside from money and some clothing items we also got everyone a Fire Blanket and one of those 2 Million Dollar puzzles (which are near impossible). 

It was actually a pretty chill week with everyone in the house. Other than Isaac having to wear a mask and somewhat keep to himself (mom also masked up) we still managed to play some games (Chronology, Farkle, Mexican Train Dominoes, and Telestrations), watch movies, eat a ton of food, and have an all-around good time. I never even freaked out the whole time (which may be a first!).

So, Christmas and New Year's has come and gone once more. I'm sure I've forgotten some things, but the decorations are down and the house is back to its quiet self. Now we step into 2024, and I'm in my second week of marathon training. Who knows what these next months will have in store for us...